Agitator



I Ml'h 5, 1929 R..E. MlNoGuE 1,704,013

A' AGITATOR l Filed July s. 1927 z sheets-sheet 1 31 Qi 9J. ATTORNEY.

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Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

"UNITED STATES :PATENT OFFICE.

ROLAND E. MIN'OGUE, OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN, ASSGNOR OFfONE-THIRD T HENRY VANDERWERPK, OF MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN.

AGITATOR.

Application filed July 5, 1927. SerialiNa 203,348.

' This invention relates to agitators andrelates particularly to agitators for mixing slurry in the manufacture of cement, and other liquid or semi-liquid products, in which agitation is effected in whole or inV part by compressed air discharged into a tank containing a quantity of material to be agitated. The agitator of the present application `is of the general type shown and described in l0k U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,633,708, dated June 28, 1927, issued jointly to myself and Henry Vande'rwei'p, and features herein shown but not described or claimed iny detail may conform to the disclosure of said patent.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved and novel arrange ment of the air distributing pipes by means of which air under pressure is discharged into the tank containing the material to be agitated, whereby the tendency of solidparticles held in suspension by the material to deposit by gravity 'and thus to clog said pipes in whole or in part, will. Vbe prevented.

In accordance with my invention, I attain the objects lthereof by the combination in an agitator, of a rotatable shaft comprising separate sections, a nects said sections, the upper section of said shaft and said shaft coupling rbeing provided with a plurality of communicating passage-ways, a pipe adapted for connecting said passage-ways in said upper shaft section with a source of supplyof air under' pressure,

means forcontrolling the admission of aii" from said airsupply pipe to saidpassa'geways and air distributing pipes secured in the discharge ends of the passage-ways in said coupling member, ther discharge ends of which, respectively, 'are secured to the agi ta-tor bar at different distances from the axis ci' the agitator shaft, said pipes extending at such angles to the horizontal, respectively,4v that slurry or other liquid or semi-liquid con-` tained in the tank will drain from said pipes Y.

by gravity` when the tank "is emptied.`r In usual practice, the angle of said pipes to the horizontal will be upwards of forty-five degrecs but admits of a wide range of variation.

Specifically, also, the means for securing 'the discharge endsofitlie air distributing pipes to the agitator barqconsists of holes formed in charge ends of said air distributing pipes are coupling member which consaid agitator bar iny wliichtlie disimprovements,shown as installed for use in 5 n a-tank, yshown in vertical, central section.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the upper portion of theagitator. on the.v line 2-2L of F ig. 1,.the tank and agitator being omitted. c

Figures, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional plan views on the lines 3-3, l-4, 5-`5 and 6-6 respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentaryy view, partly in elevation and i the line 7 7 of F ig. l.

For purposes of clear and definite illustration, have, in the drawings, shown an agitator 'embodyinginy inventiony and imparts of 4the partlyin section, on

provements as installed for use in a tankde` signed and adapted for containingl slurry to be used in the manufacture of cement.

`Describing the invention. with particular 'reference to the drawings, A designates a tank designed'to containfslurry,\which may lbe one ofa seriesv oftanks from which the to thelkilns, not shown.

Mounted within vthe tank A isan agitator slurryis drawnolf in succession and deliveredr embodying my invention and improvements,

designated as a wholeB,:which comprises a shaft rotatably mountedfin suitable bear ings supported'on I-beanis 1, which extend across the tank Aand the ends ofwhich rest upon and are rsupported thereof. n,

Secured to the lower end of the shaftb is an agitator bar 2 consisting, as shown, of a channel bar disposed with its channeled side up.y Asshcwn, said agitator' bar 2 issecured directly to a block 3, the lower faceofwhich is shaped and proportioned to fit the channel of the agitator bar 2 and which `comprises a which, assliown, vis hollow-said boss being by the side ,wallsV boss 4 fitted` tothe lower end of the shaft zli quid substance pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to said shaft. The agitator har 2 may be riveted or bolted directly to the block 3. Said agitator bar extends substantially parallel with the bottoni of the tank il at a short distance above the saine'and is preferably reinforced and` s reugthened by diagonal braces 5 which connect said agitator bar at opposite sides of its center with tl e sha t't Z ills shown, the lower ends of said bracesI are secured to lugs G on the agitator bar and their upper ends to lugs i formed on a collar S secured to the shaft As shown, said braces consist oi separate sections connected by turn buckles 9, thus providing tor adjusting the position ot' said agitator bar when desired. in practice, said agitator bar is usually positioned two or three feet above the bottom ot thetanl, but this distance may be varied as desired.

The shaft Z) is rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in a bearing block l() which is supported on -beams il connected to and which connect the .-'beams l.

i As shown, the bearings for mountin said shaft are constructed and arranged carry the weight ot said shaft, the agitator bar 2 and parts associated therewith comprisii g a hub portion 1:72, pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the upper end of the shaft provided with a shoulder 113 which rests upon the upper end et the bearing block l0 and carries the Weight of the agitator shaft and parts supported thereon. Preferably, also, the bearings for the shaft Z) comprises a steady bearing' adapted to prevent wabbling' oi" the lower end of said shatt. As shown, said steady bearing` consists ot a bearing block 1i secured to the bottom of th tank A., provided With a journal bearing l5 titted to which is a journall@ formed on a journal bleek 17 secured to the underside of the agitator bar i2 With the axis of the journal in alignment with the axis ot the shaft The journal block l? is bolted or other- WiseA rigidly secured to the block 3 secured to the lower end of the agitator shaft, the agitator bar l being clamped l etwecn said blocks 3 and 1.7 and being p 'eventedi from turning; by means of the bolts which secure aid blocks together and i which extend lthrougli holes formed in said agitator bar.

Formed on the journal block i7 outside of the journal lG and in spaced relation thereto, a depending` lian e 1S, which, when the bearing is assembled, is adapted to surround t ie portion oit the block left in which the journal bearing 'l5 is formed, the relation bein?,` such that when slurry or o ther liquid or semi` is admitted to the tnnlz A and the level thereof rises above the lower edge of said depending` flange or skirt, air Will be trapped in the space Within said depending Hannie or skirt, which will eiiectually prevent access oi material contained in the tank to the ournal bearing l5.

ln operation, rotation is adapted to be iniiarted to the agitatorr shaft by suitable means consisting, as shonn, oi gears 19 and 2O secured to the upper end oit' the agitator shatt and to a driven shatt l, respectively.

The shaft 7) consists of separate upper and lower sections and 23 which are rigidly connected iu axial alignment by means of a coupling nien'iber 2i, tor-ined on which are aligner bosses and 2G which :ire i"ted into the printimate ends oit the shaft sections Q2 and 93, Ywith shoulders 2? irnied on said member resting;Y in Contact with the ends of said pipe sections. f Sai-d smit sections are pinned or otherwise secured bosses 25 and 26.

In'accordance with my present invention, air under pressure is adopted to be discharged into the tank AA throi i pipes 2S, 29, 30 and 3l, the upper encs or -ffliich are secured in the discharge ends ot air channels 28, 29. 30 and -ll, formed in lne shaft couplingiv member 2l; and the discliarge ends of which, respectively, are secured to the agitai For convenience in installinnj said air distriluitingf pipes, they preferably made in tiro sections connected directly to the coupling` member 524ibeingjrelativelj short and being bent se that their outer ends will eX tend substantially at the desired angles of the inclinat i to the horizontal ot the main lower sections ot said air distributing; pipes, respectively. lliith 'the 4construction described, it is obvionstliat the lower sections ot said pipes, which most liable to become clogged or choked in operation may be quickly and conveniently removed and refpilaced.

As shown the lor ends oi said air distributing; p s extend through holes lrl Vtermed in. die web portion of the agitator ill nini i em in posi tlbyicnslj i shoull become necessary :o replace the removable section ot air distributing pipe While the ta A rias full ot' slurry or `other liquid or semi-'liquid matorial, it would obsc re the View of the agitator barand other parts g voned below the sur- 'tace thercoiC and ader it di lhcult in rcpacingf one ot satr p ipc-s y locate the hele in the agitator l nto 'which it was to be ins ,.ted, which involve considei i vent this, my improved i ,tator preterab comprises guide means adapted to facilita and probably soul-fl c i To nr insertion Vof the discharge ends of the lower sections of the air distributing pipes into the holesv 38 forined in the agitator bar.

is shown, said guides consist of vbars 34, the lower ends of which are pivoted to the agitator bar adjacent to the holes 33 therein and formed on which are lugs or projections provided with holes or openings which, when the agitator is assembled will align with thelioles in rthe agitator bar throughr which the air distributing shafts are inserted, respectively.

As shown, the lugs or projections 85 lconsist of' lli-bolts secured in holesforined in said K guide bars.v ythe loops of which forni the holes which `receive said air distributing pipes.

As shown, thel inean's for pivotally connectiii'g'the lower ends of said. guide bars to the agitator bar 2 consist of pivot rods l36,

opposite ends of which are secured in theV flanges of the channel beani which forins said agitator bar, and sleeves 87 forined at the lower ends of said pivot rods. Also, the guide bars 34 aresoinewhat narrower than the distance between the channels of the agitator bar and are maintained in transverse adjustn nient on the pivot rods 36 corresponding to alignment of the holes i-ii the projections 35 tened to a suitable fixed support. 'With the construction described, the upper lug 85 Ton a guide bar 34 can conveniently be located by ineans of the cord or wire 39 attached thereto and a pipe section inserted therethrough, after which it can readily be inserted vthrough the holes in the other guide lugs into engageinent with the hole 33 corresponding to any guidev bar.

Airunder pressure is adapted to be delivered to the pipes 2S, 29, 30 and 31 from a pipe 40 adapted to communicate with a lsource of supply of air under pressure, not shown, through passageways forined iny the upper shai."L section 22e-formed, as showinby pipes 41, 42, 43 and v44, the lower ends of which, respectively, communicate with the Aupper ends of the jni-ssageways` 28 yto 3l" in' thek shaft coupling ineniber 24-and passageways 41, 42', 3 and 44', formed inthe hub 45 off the driving gear 19, into the lower endsof which the spectively. f j

`As in the caseof the agitator which forms the subject-matter of U. S. Letters'Patent No. 1,633,708, heretofore referred to, the adinission of airfroni the air supply pipe 40k to the pipes4l to 44 are connected, re-k air passageways 42 to 45"and thence tothe air distributingpipes 28 to k31, is controlled by ineans of an air distributing valve kdesignated asa whole c, constructed'andari'anged to admit air to said air distributing pipes, respectively, one at a tiiiie and'during any desired intervalmusually during one entire'revolution of the agitator.

Also,"niy invention contemplates that the agitator shaft run continuously, thus overcoining the. objection'of hit or iniss agitation by ineans of air pipes controlled by inanually operated valves. However, inr inost cases itis unnecessary to supply air under pressureto the distributing pipes continuously during the operation of the agitator. Preferably, therefore, the agitator comprises inea-iis Vfor controlling the air supply pipe 40, whereby said valve will be openedL at and for predetermined intervals only, a desirable relation for nixing slurry being suoli that said control valve will be open during approxiinately 4 in each 20 ievolutionsof the agitator, or stated definitely, so that air will be admitted to each distributing pipe 2S to 3l, respectively, during` l in each E20 revolutions `of the agitator. n

Specifically the nieans for thus controlling ythe supply pipe 40 andthe adniission of air froni said supply pipe to the air distributing pipes Q8 to 31,'f`or1ns no part of the invention of ther present'application and iny invention contemplates the use of any desired or approved `ineansfor this purpose. K`-Howeve`r, I consider the aircontrol ineans shown and fully described in iny" prior Patent No.

1,633508, to "be preferable forthe purpose,y

andreference is here inade to `said patent for a full description in detail of such nieans.

l claii'n: n hln an agitator of the type specified, the

ico

combination of a rotatable shaft, ineans for rotating said shaft,anagitator `bar secured. to said shaft aid shaft being provided` with a plurality of separate passageways in' its upper portion, a pipe adapted'for connecting said,A passagewayswith a source of supply of airunder pressure, 'ineens for controlling the: admission of air to sain passageways constructed and-arranged for admitting air to said passageways separately during predeterniined intervals, airv distributing pi which r'con'iniunicate with the air passageways in the upper portion of the agitator iliaft, and ineansfor connecting the discharge Lends of said distributing pipes, respectively, to the agitator bar atditferent distances from the axisA ofy the agitator shaft, said pipes extend ing downwardlyat such angles thatftlie inaf terial ybeiingf agitated will drain therefrom `by gravity. f y 2.` An agitator as specified in claiin l, in which'the-discharge endsof the air distributagitator bar.

ing pipes are confined in holes forined inthe ini 3. in agitator' as specified in claim 1, in which the air distributing pipes consist of separate sections `detachably secured together, vcomprising relatively short curved sections which communicate, respectively, directly with different passagen'ays in the upier portion of the agitator sha ft.

n agitator as specified in claim l, in which the discharge ends of the air distributing pipes are confined in holes forme-d in the agitator bar,l and which comprises guide means for ci'ectiug engagement ofi the dis charge enos of said distributing pipes with said holes in the agitator bar.

5. An agitator as specified in claim l, inwhich the discharge ends of the air distributing pipes are connned in holes formed in the agitator bar, and Which comprises guide means for effecting engagement of the discharge ends of said distributing pipes .with said holes in the agitator bar comprising members secured to the agitator bar., and projections thereon provided With eyes Which align with said holes in the agitator' bar in which the distributing pipes are confined respectively, when the agitator is assembled for use.

6. An agitat r as specied in claim l, in which the discharge ends of theair distributing pipes are confined in holes formed in the agitator bain and u'hica comprises guidi'I means for effecting engagement of the discharge ends of said distributing pipes with saidiholes in the agitator bar, comprising members pivoted to the agitator bar, and projections thereon provided With eyes which align with said holes in the agitator bar in which the distributing pipes are confined, respectively, when the agitator is assembled for use.

7. An agitator as specified in claim l, in which the discharge ends of the air distribue in pipes are confined in holes formed in the agitator bar, and which comprises guide means .for effecting engagement of -t-he discharge ends of said distributing pipes With said holes .in the agitator' bar, comprising` members pivoted to the agitator bar. and a pluralityv of projections on each of said guide members provided With eyes Which align with said holes in the agitator bar in Which the air dis ibuting pipes are secured, respectively, when the agitator is assembled for use.

S, )tu agitator as specified in claim l, in which the discharge ends of the air distributin;4` pipes are confined holes formed in the a itator bar, and which comprises guide mi* ns for effecting engagement of the disrgo ends' of said distributing pipes with kaid holes in the agitator bar, comprising members pivoted to the agitator bar, projec tions thereon provided. with eyes Which align with said holes in the agitator har in which the distributing pipes are confined, res'pec*` tively, when the agitator is assembled for use, and flexible members attached to said 'pivoted guide members, respectively, and to belaying means positioned above the level of the material to be agitated.

9. An agitator specified in claim l, in which the agitator bar consists of a channel bar secured to the agitator shaft with its channels disposed upwards, and the discharge ends of the air distributing pipes'are confined in holes formed in the web portion of said channel, and which comprises guide means for ebl'ecting engagement of the discharge ends of said pipes, respectively, with different holes in said channel bar, compris ing members pivoted to and between the flanges of said channel bar, projections on said members provided With eyes Which align with said holes in the agitator bar in Which said air distributingpipes are confined, respectively, When the agitator is assembled for use.

lO. An agitator as specified in claim l, in which the agitator bar consists of a channel bar secured to the agitator shaft With its channels disposed upwards, and vthe discharge ends of the air distributing pipes are confined in holes formed in the web portion of said channel, and which comprises guide means for effecting engagement ofthe discharge ends of said pipes, respectively, with different holes in said channel bar, coinprising members pivoted to and between the flanges of said channel bar, projections on said members provided with eyes Which align With said holes in the agitator bar in which said air distributing` pipes are confined, respectively, when the agitator is assembled for use, the means for pivotally connecting said guide members tothe flanges of said channel bar consisting of pivot rods the ends of which are secured to the flanges of said channel and bearings formed atthe attached ends of said guide members which are adjusted thereto.

11. An agitator as specified in claim l, in Which the agitator bar consists of a channel bar secured to the agitator shaft with its channels disposed upwards, and the discharge ends of the air distributing pipes are confined in holes formed in the web portion of said channel, and which comprises guide means for effecting engagement of the discharge ends of said pipes, respectively, with different holes in said channel bar, comprising*4 members pivoted to and between the flanges of said channel bar, projections on said members provided With eyes which align with said holes in the agitatorba-r in which said air distributing pipes are confined, respectively, When the agitator is assembled for use, the Width of said guide members being less than the distance between the flanges :of said channel bar, and the means for pivotally connecting said guide members tothe flanges ofthe channelbar consisting of pivot rods the ends of which are secured in the flanges of said channel bar, bearings formed at the attached ends of said guide members which are adjusted thereto, and spacing sleeves adjusted over said pivotr rods between the pivoted ends of said guide members and fianges of said channel bar adapted to maintain said guide members in positions eorresponding` to alignment of the guide eyes on said members With the holes formed in said Channels in which, respectively, different air distributing pipes are Confined.

l2. An agitator as specified in claim 1, in which the agitatork shaft comprises separate sections and a coupling member vwhich connects said sections, theupper section of said shaft being hollow and the air passageways therein consisting of separate pipes support- .ed Within the same, and said pipe coupling being provided With passageways into which, respectively, the discharge end of. a pipe supported Within the hollow upper section of the agitator shaft and the admission end of an air distributing pipe are connected. a i

In Witness that I claim the foregoingas my invention, I afix my signature this 27th day 0f June, 1927.

ROLAND n. MiNoGUE. 

